Awww, No matter how big the kitty they all enjoy being scritched. <3

Especially social ones like Rwanda-buddy here ^^ He was calm yet playful, and would wave his paws if you tried to sneak up on him.

Heehe, He sounds adorable. ^.^

I've already stolen this picture 27 times in the last 15 seconds!

Nice picture though. :>

...Please tell me you're joking about the first part XD

As for the second part, thankies! ^^

How cute!

Thank you. Unless of course you mean Rwanda XD

Well it was for Rwanda XD no offense intended ^_^'

Wow!

Exactly my thoughts on the day ^^

So jealous. That must be amazing

Not to sound mean, but it was the time of my life! ^^ I plan to return next year to see the 5 lions I helped raise be released. :)

How would that sound mean??? It's such an amazing experience. I may be a bit jealous, but I'm not going to let that cloud my thoughts.

Oh no, I was worried I was just going to make you more jealous ^^;

Not at all. I can enjoy the experience through pictures, even though it's not the same XP

While nothing in comparison with Rwanda, my big male housecat Muffin will stand up on his hind quarters and wave his paws at me to get me to continue scritching or petting him.

It's amazing that with jaws that can crack bones, and paws almost the size of dinner plates (and capable of delivering a blow of 600 pounds) that lions can be so "kitten-like when they accept you.

Actually there was a moment where the back of my leg got a nibble from Rwanda. Honestly, it didn't hurt at all, and I think it was a greeting behavior I'd never seen beforehand... poor Rwanda got a cheek cuff all the same from someone else though. I just love how well I bonded with them, to miss them like family members.

There were 8 more lions being prepared for release too. One was an adult male named Zulu who reminded me of me; he was an extremely nervous lion, and would only come over and greet anyone once he'd been encouraged to by us and the other lions. I have a video of him and his big brother, Toka pressing their bodies against a mirror (they can't recognize their own reflections, but lions are usually curious or affectionate to their reflections) and moaning happily. ^^

I heard somewhere getting nibbled is suppose to be the same as getting a love bite...probably their way of saying thank you/love you. Dunno...anyway these are great pictures and yes I know your hand is on his belly. His 'stuff' is much lower down. Faved